Content providing system, information processing device and method, output device, and method, and program

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a content provision system, an information processing apparatus and method, an output apparatus and method, and a program therefor, which makes it possible to use content easily and quickly. When a DVD disc  3  is inserted into a DVD player  2 , a message indicating the fact is broadcasted from the DVD player  2  to a TV  4 - 1  and a TV  4 - 2 , which are all other devices connected to a network  1 . In the TV  4 - 1  and the TV  4 - 2 , a message notifying that a medium storing available content was newly found is displayed on a screen thereof, respectively. When reproduction of the found content is instructed by a user in the TV  4 - 1 , the DVD player  2  is requested by the TV  4 - 1  to provide the content, and image of the content provided in response thereto is displayed on the TV  4 - 1 . The present invention can be applied to storage equipment including a DVD player and a personal computer and display equipment including a TV set.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a content provision system, aninformation processing apparatus and method, an output apparatus andmethod, and a program therefor, particularly to a content provisionsystem, an information processing apparatus and method, an outputapparatus and method, and a program therefor, which easily and quicklyspecify a device (information processing apparatus) on the reproductionside and a device (output apparatus) on the display side, and usecontent.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, various AV (Audio Visual) devices are proposed incompliance with UPnP (registered trademark) etc. By means of thedevices, a user can easily build a home network only by interconnectingthe devices physically, without a complicated setup. For example,content, such as a movie reproduced with a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)player which is provided in a certain room, can be viewed and listenedto by means of a TV (Television) set in a room away from the DVD playervia the home network.

Further, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication (KOKAI)No. 2002-540739 discloses a technique in which various types of devicesare mutually connected to build a network.

Although such a technique as mentioned above allows building of a homenetwork easily, to thereby view and listen to the content reproduced,for example, with a DVD player in a distant position, there is a problemthat the overall operation to reproduce the content is complicated.

For example, in order to view and listen to the content, when one DVDplayer and a plurality of TV sets are on the home network, the userneeds to operate the DVD player etc. and needs to select on which TV setthe content reproduced with the DVD player is displayed. Such selectionwill become especially complicated when the DVD player and the TV setare in different rooms.

Further, since the devices connected to the home network arerespectively specified by means of network addresses, such as IP(Internet Protocol) addresses, and device names, the user needs toremember the network address and the device name of each device in orderto perform such selection.

In a case where the devices are directly interconnected via analogcables etc., the user can easily specify a reproduction device and a TVset for displaying content reproduced by the device since thereproduction device for reproducing the content is usually provided nearthe TV set. It is not easy, however, to do so under an environment wherevarious devices are interconnected via a network.

Since it is expected that every device will be connected to a network inthe future, such a problem may be serious especially.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is invented in view of such a situation, andallows specifying a device on the reproduction side and a device on thedisplay side easily and quickly, so as to use content.

A content provision system of the present invention is characterized inthat an information processing apparatus includes: transmission meansfor transmitting, to an output apparatus, a message indicating thatpredetermined content is acquired, including position informationindicating a position of the predetermined content, and being necessaryfor the output apparatus to acquire the predetermined content; andprovision means for providing the predetermined content to the outputapparatus which requests provision of the predetermined content, andthat the output apparatus includes: indication means for indicating thatthere is outputable content in response to reception of the message, andoutput means for requesting the information processing apparatus toprovide the predetermined content and for allowing a user to view andlisten to the predetermined content provided from the informationprocessing apparatus, in a case where the predetermined content isinstructed to be outputted in response to the indication from theindication means.

An information processing apparatus of the present invention ischaracterized by including: transmission means for transmitting, to anoutput apparatus, a message indicating that predetermined content isacquired, including position information indicating a position of thepredetermined content, and being necessary for the output apparatus toacquire the predetermined content, and provision means for providing thepredetermined content to the output apparatus which requests provisionof the predetermined content.

The transmission means can transmit the message in response to beingequipped with a detachable recording medium.

In a case of using the information processing apparatus and the outputapparatus, if it is necessary to input predetermined identificationinformation, then the transmission means can transmit the message onlyto an available output apparatus into which the same identificationinformation as the identification information inputted by the user intothe information processing apparatus is inputted.

The transmission means asks an information management apparatusconnected to the network, about the available output apparatus intowhich the same identification information as the identificationinformation inputted by the user into the information processingapparatus is inputted, so as to transmit the message to the outputapparatus on the basis of an inquiry result thereof.

An information-processing method of the present invention ischaracterized by including: a transmission step of transmitting, to anoutput apparatus, a message indicating that predetermined content isacquired, including position information indicating a position of thepredetermined content, and being necessary for the output apparatus toacquire the predetermined content; and a provision step of providing thepredetermined content to the output apparatus which requests provisionof the predetermined content.

A first computer program of the present invention is characterized byincluding: a transmission step of transmitting, to an output apparatus,a message indicating that predetermined content is acquired, includingposition information indicating a position of the predetermined content,and being necessary for the output apparatus to acquire thepredetermined content; and a provision step of providing thepredetermined content to the output apparatus which requests provisionof the predetermined content.

The output apparatus of the present invention is characterized byincluding: indication means for indicating that there is outputablecontent in response to reception of a message indicating thatpredetermined content is acquired in the information processingapparatus, including position information indicating a position of thepredetermined content, and being necessary to acquire the predeterminedcontent; and output means for requesting the information processingapparatus to provide the predetermined content, and outputting thepredetermined content provided from the information processingapparatus, when the predetermined content is instructed to be outputtedin response to the indication from the indication means.

The output apparatus of the present invention may be further providedwith memory means for storing the position information.

In a case where a plurality pieces of position information are stored bythe memory means on the basis of the message transmitted from aplurality of information processing apparatuses, on the basis of a pieceof position information selected by the user from the plurality piecesof position information, the output means requests the informationprocessing apparatus to provide the predetermined content, so as tooutput the predetermined content provided from the informationprocessing apparatus.

In a case of using the output apparatus and the information processingapparatus, if it is necessary to input the predetermined identificationinformation, the indication means can indicate that there is outputablecontent, in response to reception of a message which is transmitted fromthe information management apparatus connected to the network, themessage containing position information, indicating that predeterminedcontent is acquired in an available information processing apparatusinto which the same identification information as the identificationinformation inputted by the user into the output apparatus is inputted.

An output method of the present invention is characterized by including:an indication step of indicating that there is outputable content inresponse to reception of a message indicating that predetermined contentis acquired in an information processing apparatus, the messagecontaining position information showing a position of the predeterminedcontent, and being necessary to acquire the predetermined content; andan output step of requesting the information processing apparatus toprovide the predetermined content, and outputting the predeterminedcontent provided from the information processing apparatus, in a casewhere the predetermined content is instructed to be outputted inresponse to the indication by way of a process in the indication step.

A second computer program of the present invention is characterized byincluding: an indication step of indicating that there is outputablecontent in response to reception of a message indicating thatpredetermined content is acquired in an information processingapparatus, including position information indicating a position of thepredetermined content, and being necessary to acquire the predeterminedcontent; and an output step of requesting the information processingapparatus to provide the predetermined content, and outputting thepredetermined content provided from the information processingapparatus, in a case where the predetermined content is instructed to beoutputted in response to the indication by way of a process in theindication step.

According to the content provision system of the present invention, themessage indicating that the predetermined content is acquired, whichcontains the position information indicating the position of thepredetermined content, and is necessary for the output apparatus toacquire the predetermined content, is transmitted to the outputapparatus, and the output apparatus requesting provision of thepredetermined content is provided with the predetermined content.Further, in response to reception of the message, the indication thatthere is the content to be output is provided. In a case where theoutput of predetermined content is instructed in response to theindication, the information processing apparatus is requested to providethe predetermined content, and the predetermined content provided fromthe information processing apparatus is outputted.

In the information processing apparatus and method, and the firstcomputer program of the present invention, the message indicating thatthe predetermined content is acquired, which contains the positioninformation indicating the position of the predetermined content, and isnecessary to acquire the predetermined content, is transmitted to theoutput apparatus, and the predetermined content is provided for theoutput apparatus which requests provision of the predetermined content.

In the output apparatus and method, and the second computer program ofthe present invention, in a case where the indication that there is thecontent to be output is provided in response to the reception of themessage indicating that the predetermined content is acquired in theinformation processing apparatus, which contains the positioninformation indicating the position of the predetermined content, and isnecessary for acquiring the predetermined content, and the output of thepredetermined content is instructed in response to the indication, theinformation processing apparatus is requested to provide thepredetermined content, and the predetermined content provided from theinformation processing apparatus is outputted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a structural example of a contentprovision system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a sequence of an operation by the contentprovision system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a structural example of a DVD playerof FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a structural example of a TV set ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of content position informationstored in a content position information storage area of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a processing performed by the DVDplayer of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7A is a flowchart following to FIG. 6 for explaining the processingperformed by the DVD player of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7B is a flowchart following to FIG. 6 for explaining the processingperformed by the DVD player of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining a processing performed by the TVset of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9A is a flowchart following to FIG. 8 for explaining the processingperformed by the TV set of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9B is a flowchart following to FIG. 8 for explaining the processingperformed by the TV set of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9C is a flowchart following to FIG. 8 for explaining the processingperformed by the TV set of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a view showing an example of a screen displayed on the TVset.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing another structural example of the TVset of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a view showing an example of a list of contents.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining another processing performed bythe TV set of FIG. 1.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart following to FIG. 13 for explaining anotherprocessing performed by the TV set of FIG. 1.

FIG. 15A is a flowchart following to FIG. 13 for explaining anotherprocessing performed by the TV set of FIG. 1.

FIG. 15B is a flowchart following to FIG. 13 for explaining anotherprocessing performed by the TV set of FIG. 1.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart following to FIG. 13 for explaining anotherprocessing performed by the TV set of FIG. 1.

FIG. 17 is a view showing an example of a screen displayed on the TVset.

FIG. 18 is a view showing another structural example of the contentprovision system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 19 is a view showing an example of a content database.

FIG. 20 is a view showing an example of a user database.

FIG. 21 is a view showing a sequence of an operation by the contentprovision system of FIG. 18.

FIG. 22 is a view following to FIG. 21 showing a sequence of theoperation by the content provision system of FIG. 18.

FIG. 23 is a view showing another sequence of the operation by thecontent provision system of FIG. 18.

FIG. 24 is a view following to FIG. 23 showing another sequence of theoperation by the content provision system of FIG. 18.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing a structural example of a contentmanagement server of FIG. 18.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram showing a structural example of a usermanagement server of FIG. 18.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart explaining a process performed by a DVD player ofFIG. 18.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart following to FIG. 27 for explaining the processperformed by the DVD player of FIG. 18.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart following to FIG. 27 for explaining the processperformed by the DVD player of FIG. 18.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart following to FIG. 27 for explaining the processperformed by the DVD player of FIG. 18.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart for explaining a process performed by a TV set ofFIG. 18.

FIG. 32A is a flowchart following to FIG. 31 for explaining the processperformed by the TV set of FIG. 18.

FIG. 32B is a flowchart following to FIG. 31 for explaining the processperformed by the TV set of FIG. 18.

FIG. 33A is a flowchart following to FIG. 31 for explaining the processperformed by the TV set of FIG. 18.

FIG. 33B is a flowchart following to FIG. 31 for explaining the processperformed by the TV set of FIG. 18.

FIG. 34A is a flowchart following to FIG. 31 for explaining the processperformed by the TV set of FIG. 18.

FIG. 34B is a flowchart following to FIG. 31 for explaining the processperformed by the TV set of FIG. 18.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart for explaining a process performed by the contentmanagement server of FIG. 18.

FIG. 36A is a flowchart following to FIG. 35 for explaining the processperformed by the content management server.

FIG. 36B is a flowchart following to FIG. 35 for explaining the processperformed by the content management server.

FIG. 37 is a flowchart following to FIG. 35 for explaining the processperformed by the content management server.

FIG. 38A is a flowchart for explaining a process performed by the usermanagement server of FIG. 18.

FIG. 38B is a flowchart for explaining the process performed by the usermanagement server of FIG. 18.

FIG. 39 is a flowchart following to FIG. 38 for explaining the processperformed by the user management server of FIG. 18.

FIG. 40 is a view showing another example of the content database.

FIG. 41 is a view showing further another sequence of an operation bythe content provision system of FIG. 18.

FIG. 42 is a flowchart for explaining another process performed by theDVD player of FIG. 18.

FIG. 43 is a flowchart following to FIG. 42 for explaining anotherprocess performed by the DVD player of FIG. 18.

FIG. 44A is a flowchart following to FIG. 42 for explaining anotherprocess performed by the DVD player of FIG. 18.

FIG. 44B is a flowchart following to FIG. 42 for explaining anotherprocess performed by the DVD player of FIG. 18.

FIG. 45A is a flowchart for explaining another process performed by thecontent management server of FIG. 18.

FIG. 45B is a flowchart for explaining another process performed by thecontent management server of FIG. 18.

FIG. 46A is a flowchart following to FIG. 45 for explaining anotherprocess performed by the content management server of FIG. 18.

FIG. 46B is a flowchart for explaining another process performed by thecontent management server of FIG. 18.

FIG. 47 is a flowchart for explaining another process performed by theTV set of FIG. 18.

FIG. 48A is a flowchart following to FIG. 47 for explaining anotherprocess performed by the TV set of FIG. 18.

FIG. 48B is a flowchart following to FIG. 47 for explaining anotherprocess performed by the TV set of FIG. 18.

FIG. 48C is a flowchart following to FIG. 47 for explaining anotherprocess performed by the TV set of FIG. 18.

FIG. 49A is a flowchart following to FIG. 47 for explaining anotherprocess performed by the TV set of FIG. 18.

FIG. 49B is a flowchart following to FIG. 47 for explaining anotherprocess performed by the TV set of FIG. 18.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a structural example of a content provisionsystem to which the present invention is applied.

A network 1 is a local network (LAN (Local Area Network)) builtwirelessly or with a wire in a residence, for example. A DVD (DigitalVersatile Disc) player 2 which is a storage device for providingcontent, and a TV (Television) 4-1 and a TV 4-2 which are displaydevices for outputting the content are connected to the network 1.

Respective devices connected to the network 1 are specified by networkaddresses, such as IP (Internet Protocol) addresses, assigned by arouter (not shown) on the network 1, so as to communicate with oneanother by way of TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/InternetProtocol), for example.

For example, content recorded on a DVD disc 3 inserted in an opticaldisc drive of the DVD player 2 is reproduced and reproduced content istransmitted through the network 1 to a device operated by a user, eitherthe TV 4-1 or the TV 4-2. Receiving the content transmitted from the DVDplayer 2, the TV 4-1, for example, causes its display unit to display animage of the content.

Thus, the content reproduced by the DVD player 2 can be used by, forexample, the TV 4-1 connected to the DVD player 2 through the network,so that the user can view and listen to the content recorded on the DVDdisc 3 by means of the TV 4-1, even if the DVD player 2 and TV 4-1 arein separate rooms.

In addition, in the content provision system of FIG. 1, when the DVDdisc 3 is inserted by the user, the DVD player 2 broadcasts a messageindicating the insertion to every device connected to the network 1, andprovides the content read from the DVD disc 3 only to the device whichrequests provision of the content in response to the broadcast.

FIG. 2 shows a sequence of an operation of displaying the content readby the DVD player 2 on the TV 4-1 used by the user in the contentprovision system of FIG. 1.

When the user inserts a medium (for example, DVD disc 3) in the opticaldisc drive of the DVD player 2, and when it is detected in step S1 thatthe medium is inserted, the process moves to step S2, and the DVD player2 broadcasts an insertion notifying message for notifying that a mediumis newly inserted, to the TV 4-1 and the TV 4-2 which are all devicesconnected to the network 1.

The insertion notifying message to be broadcasted includes a networkaddress of the DVD player 2 itself that is a device into which themedium is newly inserted, and a resource ID with which the DVD player 2specifies the inserted medium. For example, a drive name of the DVDplayer 2 into which the DVD disc 3 is inserted, and an ID assigned tothe DVD disc 3 beforehand are included in the insertion notifyingmessage as resource ID's.

After receiving the insertion notifying message transmitted from the DVDplayer 2 in step S11, the process goes to step S12, and the TV 4-1 movesdisplays on a screen a message notifying that a new medium is found.Since the message is automatically displayed in a predetermined positionof a screen by way of pop-up, for example, the user can check that amedium has been inserted, i.e., that there is a reproducible content, inthe device connected to the network 1 even in the middle of displaying atelevision program.

Further, since the insertion notifying message is broadcast to all thedevices on the network 1, after the TV 4-2 also receives the insertionnotifying message in step S21, the process moves to step S22, and themessage for notifying that the medium is found is displayed on thescreen.

In addition, the network address and the resource ID which are includedin the insertion notifying message are saved in each of the TV 4-1 andthe TV 4-2 as data showing a position of the reproducible content.

For example, when the user who is near the TV 4-1 operates a remotecontroller for the TV 4-1 and issues an instruction to reproduce thecontent (content recorded on the medium inserted in the DVD player 2)indicated as being newly found, the TV 4-1 accepts the instruction instep S13.

Further, in step S14, with reference to the saved network address andresource ID, the TV 4-1 transmits a reproduction request message forrequesting to reproduce the content, to the DVD player 2 havingtransmitted the insertion notifying message. The reproduction requestmessage includes the resource ID, so that the DVD player 2 havingreceived this message can specify the content requested to bereproduced, based on the resource ID.

In step S3, the DVD player 2 receives the reproduction request messagetransmitted from the TV 4-1, reads the content which is specified withthe resource ID included in the reproduction request message and whichis recorded on the newly inserted medium, and generates a reproductionresponse message including the read content. Further, the process movesto step S4, and the DVD player 2 transmits the generated reproductionresponse message to the TV 4-1 which is a transmission source of thereproduction request message.

In step S15, the TV 4-1 receives the reproduction response message, andoutputs the content included in the message.

Thus, the user may only insert the medium into the DVD player 2, andperform a reproduction operation by means of the TV 4-1, so as to viewand listen to the content recorded on the medium through the network 1by means of the TV 4-1. That is, in order to view and listen to thecontent, the user does not need to operate the DVD player 2 to select aTV set on which the content is displayed.

Further, even in a case where a plurality of storage devices, such asthe DVD player 2 and a personal computer (not shown) which can reproducethe content, and a plurality of display devices, such as TV sets, areconnected with the network 1, the user may only insert the medium intothe storage device then perform the reproduction operation by means ofthe display device (remote controller), so as to view and listen to thecontent recorded on the medium inserted in the certain storage deviceimmediately before, by means of the display device, without beingconscious of the network address, the device name, etc. The processingby each device will be described in detail later.

Next, a structure of each device of FIG. 1 will be described.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a structural example of the DVD player2.

A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 controls an overall operation of theDVD player 2 via a bus 14 according to a control program stored in a ROM(Read Only Memory: not shown) and a main memory unit 12. For example,the control program is implemented by the CPU 11, so that a messagemanagement unit 21, a resource ID acquisition unit 22, and areproduction control unit 23 are realized.

The message management unit 21 manages transmission/reception of amessage to/from the device connected to the network 1. The resource IDacquisition unit 22 acquires the resource ID included in the insertionnotifying message etc. In addition, as described above, the drive nameor the ID of the DVD disc 3 may not be taken as the resource ID, but theresource ID acquisition unit 22 self-generates a unique ID on the basisof a random number of a predetermined number of digits etc., and theunique ID may be regarded as the resource ID. The reproduction controlunit 23 controls reproduction (decoding) of the content recorded on thedisc inserted in an optical disc drive 16.

The main memory unit 12 stores the control program implemented by theCPU 11, and various types of setup data by the user, etc. In a casewhere log-in by means of a user ID, a password, etc. is necessary beforethe user operates the DVD player 2, the user ID inputted by way of thelog-in is stored in a user ID storage area 24 formed in the main memoryunit 12. The user ID stored in the user ID storage area 24 is used, asneeded, in order to identify the user who is using the player 2 then.

A communications unit 13 controls communications with other devicesthrough the network 1. For example, the message received by thecommunications unit 13 is outputted to the CPU 11 through the bus 14. Aninput unit 15 includes a button to be operated when instructions areissued to reproduce, stop, etc. the content, or a light receiver forreceiving infrared rays from the remote controller. The input unit 15outputs information indicating the operation by the user, to the CPU 11.When a medium is inserted by the user, the optical disc drive 16 outputsinformation indicative of detection of the medium, to the CPU 11. Thepredetermined drive name is assigned to the optical disc drive 16, andthe drive name is used as a resource ID as needed.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a structural example of the TV 4-1.The TV 4-2 also has a similar structure.

A CPU 31 controls the overall operation of the TV 4-1 through a bus 34according to a control program stored in a ROM (not shown) and a mainmemory unit 32. For example, the control program is implemented by theCPU 31 so that a message management unit 41, a content output controlunit 42, and an indication unit 43 are realized.

The message management unit 41 manages transmission/reception of amessage to/from the device connected to the network 1. The contentoutput control unit 42 controls an output (display of an image on adisplay unit 36, and an audio output from a speaker (not shown)) of thecontent provided from the DVD player 2 etc. When the insertion notifyingmessage transmitted from the DVD player 2 is received in acommunications unit 33 and provided through the bus 34, the indicationunit 43 displays a message for notifying that the medium is inserted, byway of pop-up, for example, in a predetermined position of the displayunit 36.

The main memory unit 32 stores the control program implemented by theCPU 31, and various types of setup data by the user, etc. In the exampleof FIG. 4, a content position information storage area 44 is formed inthe main memory unit 32, and the content position information showingthe position of the reproducible content is stored in this contentposition information storage area 44. The content position informationis used in order that the TV 4-1 may acquire the content notified by theinsertion notifying message as being newly found.

FIG. 5 is a chart showing an example of the content position informationstored in the content position information storage area 44.

As described above, in a case where the insertion notifying message istransmitted from the DVD player 2, the network address and the resourceID which are included in the insertion notifying message are stored ascontent position information. The network address (IP address) of theDVD player 2 is set to “192.168.0.30”, and the resource ID (drive nameof the DVD player 2) is set to “E:”, in this example. With reference tosuch content position information, the CPU 31 of the TV 4-1 can specifythe positions of the device into which the medium is inserted, and themedium inserted into the device.

Returning now to the description of FIG. 4, the communications unit 33controls communications with other devices through the network 1. Theinput unit 35 includes a light receiver for receiving the infrared raysfrom, for example, the remote controller, and outputs the informationindicating the operation by the user to the CPU 31. The display unit 36may have an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube),etc., and display the image of the content under control of the contentoutput control unit 42.

Next, with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 and 7 (FIGS. 7A and7B), a process in the DVD player 2 in the content provision system ofFIG. 1 will be described in detail.

This process is started, when the DVD player 2 is connected to thenetwork 1, when a power source of the DVD player 2 connected to thenetwork 1 is turned ON, etc.

In step S1, the CPU 11 of the DVD player 2 monitors a status of theoptical disc drive 16, and determines whether a medium is inserted in itor not.

In step S1, in a case where it is determined that a medium is insertedin it, the CPU 11 moves to the process of step S5 (FIG. 7A). In step S5,the message management unit 21 of the CPU 11 generates an insertionnotifying message including a network address and a resource ID of theDVD player 2, and broadcasts the generated insertion notifying messagefrom the communications unit 13. In addition, for example, the resourceID included in the insertion notifying message is a drive name itself,an ID newly generated on the basis of a predetermined random number,etc. which are acquired by the resource ID acquisition unit 22.

The insertion notifying message is received by all the devices (the TV4-1 and the TV 4-2 in FIG. 1) connected to the network 1. Afterbroadcasting the insertion notifying message, the CPU 11 performsprocesses in step S2 (FIG. 6) and steps subsequent thereto.

On the other hand, in a case where it is determined in step S1 that amedium is not inserted in it, the CPU 11 moves to the process of stepS2. In a case where an event cannot be acquired, the process standsuntil it is acquired. In a case where an event arises, it is acquired.In the DVD player 2, a fact that a medium is inserted in the opticaldisc drive 16 and a fact that the reproduction request message isreceived are acquired as events, for example.

In step S3, the CPU 11 determines whether or not a medium is newlyinserted (whether or not the event acquired in step S2 is that a mediumis newly inserted). In a case where it is determined that the medium isinserted, the above-mentioned processes in step S5 and steps subsequentthereto are performed. In other words, after broadcasting the insertionnotifying message, the CPU 11 performs the processes in step S2 andsteps subsequent thereto.

On the other hand, in a case where it is determined in step S3 that amedium is not newly inserted, the process moves to step S4 and it isdetermined whether or not the CPU 11 has received a reproduction requestmessage. In step S4, in a case where it is determined that thereproduction request message is not received, the processes in step S2and steps subsequent thereto are performed repeatedly.

In step S4, in a case where it is determined that the reproductionrequest message has been received, the CPU 11 moves to the process ofstep S6 (FIG. 7B). As described above with reference to FIG. 2, the TV4-1 etc. shows on its screen that a medium is inserted. In response tothis, when the user issues an instruction to reproduce the content, thereproduction request message is transmitted from the TV 4-1.

In step S6, the CPU 11 determines whether or not a medium is inserted inthe optical disc drive 16. When it is determined that the medium isinserted in it, the process moves to step S7.

In step S7, the message management unit 21 of the CPU 11 generates areproduction response message including the content recorded on themedium inserted in the optical disc drive 16, i.e., the content whichthe user issues an instruction to reproduce, and transmits the generatedreproduction response message from the communications unit 13 to thedevice having transmitted the reproduction request message. The contentincluded in the reproduction response message may be, for example, thedata obtained by decoding using the reproduction control unit 23, or thedata before decoding as recorded on the medium, in a case where thedevice which requests to provide the content is a device which candecode the content.

Reproduction of the content included in the message is performed in thedevice having received the reproduction response message. Aftertransmitting the reproduction response message, or in step S6, in a casewhere it is determined that a medium is not inserted in it, theprocesses in step S2 and steps subsequent thereto are repeatedly carriedout.

Next, with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. 8 and 9 (FIGS. 9Athrough 9C), a process in the TV 4-1 in the content provision system ofFIG. 1 will be described in detail. Naturally, a similar process isperformed also in the TV 4-2.

In step S21, the CPU 31 initializes the content position informationstorage area 44 of the main memory unit 32 to be a condition that thecontent position information is not stored, and the process moves tostep S22. In a case where an event arises, it is acquired. In the TV4-1, a fact that the insertion notifying message is received, a factthat the user issues an instruction to reproduce the content, or a factthat the reproduction response message is received is acquired as anevent, for example.

In step S23, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the insertionnotifying message is received. In a case where it is determined that ithas been received, the process moves to step S26 (FIG. 9A). In step S26,the CPU 31 causes the content position information storage area 44 tostore the network address and the resource ID which are contained in theinsertion notifying message, as the content position information.

In step S27, the indication unit 43 of the CPU 31 causes the displayunit 36 to display a screen where a message for notifying that a newmedium is found is displayed.

FIG. 10 is a view showing an example of screens displayed on the displayunit 36.

A screen 36A shows an example of a screen (for example, a screen of atelevision program) before receiving the insertion notifying message.When the insertion notifying message is received in a situation wherethe screen 36A is displayed (step S22 of FIG. 8), the screen 36A changesto a screen 36B as shown by a white arrow A1. In this example, a window61 is displayed on a lower right side of screen 36B by way of pop-up,and a message of “new medium is found” is displayed there. Further, animage of the television program remains displayed in sections other thanthe window 61.

Thus, the user can check that the medium has been inserted in the deviceconnected to the network 1 even in the middle of viewing and listeningto the television program. Further, as shown by a white arrow A2, byoperating the remote controller when the window 61 is displayed, theuser can reproduce directly the content indicated as being found, in thewindow 61, i.e., the content recorded on the medium inserted in the DVDplayer 2, so as to view and listen to by means of the TV 4-1. Inaddition, on the elapsing of a predetermined time during which the userchecked the message can issue an instruction to reproduce it, the window61 is automatically closed (a display disappears).

Returning now to the description with reference to FIG. 9A, afterindication of finding the new medium by displaying such a screen, theprocess returns to step S22 and processes in the steps subsequentthereto are performed.

In step S23, in a case where it is determined that the insertionnotifying message has not been received, the CPU 31 moves to the processof step S24, and determines whether or not the instructions to reproducethe content are issued by the user on the basis of the output from theinput unit 35. In a case where it is determined that the instructions toreproduce the content have been issued in step S24, the CPU 31 moves tothe process of step S28 (FIG. 9B).

In step S28, with reference to the content position information storedin the content position information storage area 44, the messagemanagement unit 41 of the CPU 31 generates a reproduction requestmessage containing the resource ID and destined for the network addressincluded in the content position information, and transmits thegenerated reproduction request message through the communications unit33. At this stage, a reproduction response message containing thecontent specified on the basis of the resource ID is transmitted (stepS7 of FIG. 7B) from the DVD player 2, for example, which receives thetransmitted reproduction request message. Then, the process goes to stepS22 and the processes in the steps thereafter are performed.

In addition, in step S28, in a case where the content positioninformation is not stored in the content position information storagearea 44, a predetermined error handling process of displaying a messagefor notifying that the CPU 31 does not have a reproducible content isperformed, then the processes in step S22 and the steps subsequentthereto are performed.

On the other hand, in a case where it is determined in step S24 that theuser has not issued an instruction to reproduce the content, the CPU 31moves to the process of step S25, and determines whether or not thereproduction response message has been received. In a case where it isdetermined in step S25 that the reproduction response message has notbeen received, the CPU 31 returns to the process of step S22, repeatsthe processes in the step and thereafter. On the other hand, in a casewhere it is determined that the reproduction response message has beenreceived, the process moves to step S29 (FIG. 9C).

In step S29, the content output control unit 42 reproduces (outputs) thecontent included in the reproduction response message. Then, the processreturns to step S22, and the processes in the steps thereafter areperformed repeatedly.

As described above, since the fact that the medium is found is displayedautomatically on the screen, after inserting the medium in the DVDplayer 2, the user can use the content easily and quickly, only byissuing an instruction to reproduce the content through the TV 4-1. Inother words, the user does not need to perform complicated operations,such as operating the TV 4-1 to select a device having the reproduciblecontent, or operating the DVD player 2 to select a device for displayingthe content.

In the above, an example is described where there is only onereproducible content on the network 1, however, a plurality of storagedevices like the DVD player 2 may be connected to the network 1.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of a structure of the TV4-1 which can manage a plurality of content position information on thebasis of the insertion notifying message transmitted from a plurality ofstorage devices in a case where the plurality of storage devices areconnected to the network 1. The same reference symbols are used toidentify corresponding parts as in FIG. 4, and the detailed descriptionis omitted suitably.

A list of the content position information of the reproducible contentson the network 1 is stored in a content list storage area 71 formed inthe main memory unit 32.

FIG. 12 is a chart showing an example of a list (content list) of thecontent position information stored in the content list storage area 71.

Each time an insertion notifying message transmitted from a deviceconnected to the network 1 is received, content position information isregistered into the content list. A predetermined number of pieces ofcontent position information, such as, for example, up to ten pieces,can be registered with the content list.

In the example of FIG. 12, content position information #1 including anetwork address “192.168.0.30”, and the resource ID “E:”, and contentposition information #2 including a network address “192.168.0.50” and aresource ID “C:” are registered into the content list.

In addition, content selection information of FIG. 12 is information forspecifying (selecting) content to be reproduced, and a candidate forselection is changed according to the operation by the user. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 12, when reproduction of the content isinstructed by the user in the situation where the content positioninformation #1 is selected with the content selection information,reproduction of the content (content of the resource ID “E:” which thedevice of the network address “192.168.0.30” has) specified by thecontent position information #1 is started.

Next, with reference to flowcharts of FIG. 13 through FIG. 16,processing by the TV 4-1 of FIG. 11 in the content provision system ofFIG. 1 will be described in detail.

In addition, a process performed by the DVD player 2 corresponding tothe TV 4-1 is the same as the process as described with reference toFIG. 6 and FIG. 7. In other words, in the DVD player 2, the insertionnotifying message is broadcast in response to insertion of a medium.Further, in response to reception of the reproduction request messagetransmitted from the TV 4-1, the reproduction response message includingthe predetermined content is transmitted from the DVD player 2 to the TV4-1.

In step S41, the CPU 31 initializes the content list storage area 71 ofthe main memory unit 32 in such a way that none of the content positioninformation is stored, and also initializes the content selectioninformation (such that none of the content position information isselected).

In step S42, in a case where an event arises, the CPU 31 acquires theevent. In the TV 4-1, a fact that the insertion notifying message isreceived, a fact that a selection operation of content is performed, afact that the reproduction of content is instructed, and a fact that thereproduction response message is received are acquired as the events,for example.

In step S43, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the insertionnotifying message has been received. In a case where it is determinedthat the insertion notifying message has been received, the processmoves to step S47 (FIG. 14).

In step S47, the CPU 31 determines whether or not there is a free spacein the content list, or if it is possible to add and register thecontent position information (the network address and the resource ID)included in the newly received insertion notifying message.

For example, in a case where it is possible to register ten pieces ofcontent position information into the content list and ten pieces ofcontent position information are already registered into the contentlist, the CPU 31 determines that there is not a free space in thecontent list, moves to the process of step S48, and deletes any onepiece of the content position information registered in the contentlist.

For example, in the content list of FIG. 12, when the latest informationis subsequently registered onto the already registered content positioninformation, the oldest content position information registered with thelowest row is firstly deleted. Further, in a case where information,such as frequency in use of the user for each storage device, isregistered, the content position information on the content which astorage device, as a content provider, of the lowest selection frequency(the least frequently used storage device) has may be deletedsequentially on the basis of the information.

In step S47, in a case where it is determined that there is a free spacein the content list, step S48 is skipped.

In step S49, the CPU 31 registers the network address and the resourceID which are contained in the newly received insertion notifyingmessage, into a head of the content list, for example.

Further, in step S50, the CPU 31 changes the candidate for selection bymeans of the content selection information so that the latest contentposition information registered in step S49 may be selected. Thus, whenthe reproduction of content is instructed, the content specified by thelatest content position information is reproduced.

In step S51, the indication unit 43 of the CPU 31 displays, on thepredetermined position of the display unit 36, a message for notifyingthe user that the new medium is found, then moves to the process of stepS42, and performs processes in the steps subsequent thereto.

On the other hand, in a case where it is determined in step S43 that theinsertion notifying message has not been received, the process moves tostep S44, then the CPU 31 displays the content list on the screen. It isdetermined whether or not an operation of selecting the content to bereproduced out of the list has been carried out by the user.

In step S44 (FIG. 13), in a case where it is determined that theselection operation of the content by the user has been performed, theprocess moves to step S52 (FIG. 15A). For example, when the selectionbutton provided for the remote controller of the TV 4-1 is pushed, acontent list is displayed, whereby content to be reproduced can beselected out of the content list.

In step S52, the CPU 31 determines whether or not one or more pieces ofcontent position information are registered in the content list. In acase where it is determined that they are registered, the CPU 31 movesto the process of step S53, switches the content position informationselected by means of the content selection information, and also updatesthe screen displayed on the display unit 36.

FIG. 17 is a view showing examples of the screens displayed on thedisplay unit 36.

The screens 36A and 36B are the same as the screens 36A and 36B of FIG.10, respectively. When the insertion notifying message is received, themessage for notifying the user of the reception is displayed on thewindow 61 (step S51 of FIG. 14).

Further, in a condition where the screen 36B is displayed, when theselection operation of content is performed (when the selection buttonis pushed once), the screen 36B is changed to the screen 36C as shown bya white arrow A3. In this example, the window 61 remains as it is and awindow 81 is newly displayed at the upper left of the screen 36C. InFIG. 17, a “DVD player”, a “tuner”, and a “digital camera” that aredisplayed on the window 81 are the devices which have the networkaddresses registered into the content list, i.e., the devices which havea reproducible content. Further, the “DVD player” is selected from the“DVD player”, the “tuner”, and the “digital cameras” by a cursor 81A asa device having the content to be reproduced (internally specified byusing the content selection information). In a case where thereproduction of content is instructed in a condition that the screen 36Cis displayed, the reproduction of the content which the “DVD player” hasis started as shown by a white arrow A4, and the screen of the contentis displayed on the display unit 36.

Further, when the selection button is subsequently operated in acondition that the screen 36C is displayed, the candidate for selectionusing content selection information is changed internally (step S53). Inresponse to this, the display of the display unit 36 is the one in whichthe position of cursor 81A is moved as in a screen 36D shown by a whitearrow A5. In FIG. 17, it is switched to a condition that the “tuner”displayed immediately under the “DVD player” is to be selected by thecursor 81A. In a case where the reproduction of content is instructed inthis situation, the reproduction of the content tuned in by the “tuner”is started as shown by a white arrow A6, and a screen of the content isdisplayed on the display unit 36.

Returning now to the description with reference to FIG. 15A, afterupdating the screen display, and in a case where it is determined instep S52 that the content position information is not registered in thecontent list, the process moves to step S42 (FIG. 13), and the processesin the step subsequent thereto are performed. In addition, in a casewhere the content position information is not registered in the contentlist, the screen for notifying the user of the fact may be displayed.

In step S44, in a case where it is determined that the selectionoperation of content is not performed, the process moves to step S45,and the CPU 31 determines whether or not the reproduction of content isinstructed by the user.

In step S45, in a case where it is determined that the reproductionoperation of content is performed, the process moves to step S54 (FIG.15B), and the CPU 31 determines whether or not one or more pieces ofcontent position information are registered in the content list.

In step S54, in a case where it is determined that the content positioninformation is registered, the CPU 31 moves to the process of step S55,and acquires a network address and a resource ID of the content which isselected by the content selection information as a candidate forreproduction with reference to the content selection information and thecontent list.

In step S56, the message management unit 41 of the CPU 31 generates thereproduction request message containing the resource ID and destined forthe acquired network address, and transmits the generated reproductionrequest message from the communications unit 33. The reproductionresponse message containing the content read out on the basis of theresource ID is transmitted (step S7 of FIG. 7B) from the DVD player 2having received the reproduction request message transmitted at thisstage, for example (step S7 in FIG. 7B).

After transmitting the reproduction request message, or after beingdetermined in step S54 that the content position information is notregistered in the content list, the process moves to step S42 and theprocesses in the steps subsequent thereto are performed.

In step S45 (FIG. 13), in a case where it is determined that thereproduction of content is not instructed by the user, the CPU 31 movesto the process of step S46, and determines whether or not thereproduction response message is received. In step S46, in a case wherethe CPU 31 determines that the reproduction response message has notbeen received, it returns to the process of step S42, and repeatedlycarries out the processes in the steps subsequent thereto. On the otherhand, in a case where it is determined that the reproduction responsemessage has been received, the process moves to step S57 (FIG. 16).

In step S57, the content output control unit 42 causes the contentcontained in the reproduction response message to be outputted. Then,the process returns to step S42 and the processes in the stepssubsequent thereto are performed.

According to the above processing, the user can use the content throughthe network 1 easily and quickly, only by selecting content from thelist and issuing an instruction to reproduce the content, withoutperforming complicated operations.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing another structural example of thecontent provision system to which the present invention is applied. Thesame reference symbols are used to identify corresponding parts in FIG.1.

In FIG. 18, a content management server 101 and a user management server102 in addition to the DVD player 2, the TV 4-1, and the TV 4-2 of FIG.1 are connected to the network 1.

The content management server 101 has a content database as shown inFIG. 19, and manages content which is inserted in a device connected tothe network 1. For example, in a case where the user inserts a medium inthe DVD player 2, a message for requesting to register contentinformation about the inserted content is transmitted from the DVDplayer 2 to the content management server 101, and the contentinformation contained in the message is registered into the contentdatabase.

In the example of FIG. 19, a device name of the device (device intowhich the medium is inserted) transmitted the content information to thecontent management server 101, a resource ID for specifying content in adevice having the content, and a registration time of the contentinformation are registered.

The content management server 101 suitably provides the TV 4-1, the TV4-2, etc. with the content information registered in the contentdatabase.

The user management server 102 has a user database as shown in FIG. 20,and manages user information about a user who logged in a deviceconnected to the network 1. For example, when the user logs into the TV4-1, the user information about the user who logged in is transmittedfrom the TV 4-1 to the user management server 102, and it is registeredinto the user database. The user management server 102 suitably providesthe TV 4-1, the TV 4-2, etc. with the user information.

In the example of FIG. 20, the device name of the device in which theuser logged, and the user's user ID are registered as the userinformation. At the time of log-in, this user ID may be a predeterminednumber of digits of alphabets or numbers which are manually inputted bythe user, or may be obtained on the basis of a pattern of the user'sfingerprint, etc.

In addition, in FIG. 18, it is assumed that the devices, the DVD player2, the TV 4-1, TV 4-2, etc., know beforehand each of the networkaddresses of the content management server 101 and the user managementserver 102, or know the network addresses of the content managementserver 101 and the user management server 102 by way of servicediscovery protocols, such as SLP (Service Location Protocol) and UPnP.

Now, with reference to sequences in FIG. 21 and FIG. 22, an operation ofthe content provision system of FIG. 18 will be described. In addition,a case where the user uses only the DVD player 2 and the TV 4-1 isdescribed here. Therefore, since the TV 4-2 of FIG. 18 does not performany one of the processes, the TV 4-2 is not illustrated in FIG. 21 andFIG. 22. Same applies to FIG. 23, FIG. 24, and FIG. 41, which will beset forth later.

Upon accepting the log-in (input of user ID etc.) by the user in stepS81, the DVD player 2 moves to the process of step S82, and transmits auser's registration request message for requesting to register the userinformation, to the user management server 102. A user's registrationrequest message contains the user ID of the user who logged in and thenetwork address of the DVD player 2 which is the device being a messagetransmission source.

In step S101, the user management server 102 receives the user'sregistration request message, and registers into the user database theuser information having the user ID contained in the message and thedevice name acquired on the basis of the network address. In addition,at this stage, in a case where a previous user's registration requestmessage has been already received from the device transmitting a user'sregistration request message, the user information based on the newlyreceived user's registration request message replaces the alreadyregistered user information and is registered into the user database.Therefore, in a case where a first user has already logged in the DVDplayer 2 and then a second user logs into the DVD player 2, only theuser information about the second user who logged in later, i.e., theuser who is using it then, is registered into the user database.

Further, in a case where the user inserts the medium in the DVD player2, the DVD player 2 receives it in step S83, moves to the process ofstep S84, and transmits, to the content management server 101, thecontent registration request message for requesting to register thecontent. The content registration request message contains the resourceID with which the DVD player 2 specifies the inserted medium, and thenetwork address of the DVD player 2.

In step S121, having received the content registration request message,the content management server 101 registers, into the content database,the content information including the resource ID contained in thecontent registration request message, the device name acquired from thenetwork address of the DVD player 2 which is the device havingtransmitted the message, and the time when the message is received. Inaddition, at this stage, in a case where a previous content registrationrequest message containing the same device name and the same resource IDhas been already transmitted before the registration from the devicetransmitting a content registration request message, then the contentinformation based on the newly received content registration requestmessage replaces the already registered content information, and isregistered into the content database.

In step S85, the DVD player 2 transmits, to the user management server102, a device list request message for requesting a list of devices intowhich the user logging in the DVD player 2 logs. The device list requestmessage contains the user ID of the user who logs into the DVD player 2.

Receiving the device list request message in step S102, the usermanagement server 102 reads, from the user database, the userinformation including the same user ID as the user ID contained in thedevice list request message. In addition to the user ID, the device nameof the device into which the user logs is also included in the userinformation, so that the list of the user information read here showsthe list of the devices into which the user logging in the DVD player 2logs.

The user management server 102 moves to the process of step S103, andtransmits a device list response message containing the read userinformation to the DVD player 2 which is a transmitter of the devicelist request message.

Receiving the device list response message in step S86, the DVD player 2checks whether or not the device list contained in the message hastherein a device name of a device other than DVD player 2. In a casewhere there is no device name of a device other than DVD player 2 (acase where the user logging in the DVD player 2 has not logged inanother device yet), the DVD player 2 waits for a message from anotherdevice. It is noted that a process in a case where a device name of adevice other than DVD player 2 is in the device list i.e., a process ina case where the user logging in the DVD player 2 has already logged inanother device, such as the TV 4-1 etc. will be described later withreference to the sequence of FIG. 23 and FIG. 24.

Here, in a case where the user also logs into the TV 4-1, the TV 4-1accepts the log-in in step S131, moves to the process of step S132, andtransmits the user's registration request message to the user managementserver 102. The user ID of the user who logged in is contained in theuser's registration request message.

Receiving the user's registration request message transmitted from theTV 4-1 in step S104, the user management server 102 matches andregisters the user ID contained in the message, and the device name ofthe TV 4-1 which is a device of the transmitter of the message.

The TV 4-1 transmits the device list request message to the usermanagement server 102 in step S133. The device list request messagecontains the user ID of the user logging in the TV 4-1.

In step S105, the user management server 102 receives the device listrequest message transmitted from the TV 4-1, and moves to the process ofstep S106. Then, with reference to the user information registered intothe user database, the device list response message containing the listof the devices into which the user logging in the TV 4-1 logs istransmitted to the TV 4-1 which is the transmission source of the devicelist request message.

Therefore, in this example, the TV 4-1 is notified that the user hasalready logged in the DVD player 2 by way of this device list responsemessage.

Receiving the device list response message in step S134, the TV 4-1checks whether or not there is a device name of a device other than TV4-1 in the device list contained in the message. In a case where thereis a device name of a device other than TV 4-1, the content list requestmessage is transmitted to the content management server 101. All thedevice names included in the device list response message transmittedfrom the user management server 102 are contained in the content listrequest message.

In step S122, the content management server 101 receives the contentlist request message transmitted from the TV 4-1, moves to the processof step S123, and transmits the content list response message to the TV4-1 which is the transmission source of the content list requestmessage. This content list response message contains the latest one ofthe content information including the same device name as the devicename contained in the content list request message, i.e., the contentinformation registered by the device into which the user logged mostrecently. Thus, the TV 4-1 is notified of the resource ID and the devicename of the device into which the user logged most recently. It is notedthat, in a case where there is no content information including the samedevice name as the device name contained in the content list requestmessage, neither of the content information are included in the contentlist response message.

In step S136, the TV 4-1 receives the content list response messagetransmitted from the content management server 101. In a case where thecontent information registered by the device into which the user loggedmost recently is contained in the content list response message, thedevice name and the resource ID which are included in the contentinformation are saved as the content position information. In otherwords, the content position information saved here shows the position ofthe medium inserted in the DVD player 2 into which the user logging inthe TV 4-1 logged most recently.

Further, the TV 4-1 moves to the process of step S137, and displays themessage for notifying the user that the medium inserted recently isfound. In addition, in this example, there is displayed that the medium(medium inserted in step S83) inserted in the DVD player 2 is found.

For example, when the user who is near the TV 4-1 operates the remotecontroller for the TV 4-1, and issues an instruction to reproduce thecontent shown by way of pop-up etc., the TV 4-1 receives it in stepS138. Further, the TV 4-1 moves to the process of step S139, andtransmits the reproduction request message for requesting to reproducethe content to the DVD player 2 having a reproducible medium, withreference to the saved content position information (the network addressand the resource ID). Since the reproduction request message containsthe resource ID, the DVD player 2 having received the reproductionrequest message can specify the content requested to be reproduced onthe basis of the resource ID.

When the reproduction request message from the TV 4-1 is received instep S87, the DVD player 2 generates the reproduction response messageincluding the content specified by the resource ID contained in thereproduction request message, moves to the process of step S88, andtransmits the reproduction response message to the TV 4-1 which is thetransmission source of the reproduction request message.

Receiving the reproduction response message in step S140, the TV 4-1reproduces the content contained in the message.

Next, with reference to the sequence of FIG. 23 and FIG. 24, anotheroperation of the content provision system of FIG. 18 will be described.

Different from FIG. 21 and FIG. 22, FIG. 23 and FIG. 24 show anoperation in a case where the user logs into the TV 4-1 prior to logginginto the DVD player 2, then logs into the DVD player 2.

In a case where the user logs into the TV 4-1, the TV 4-1 accepts thelog-in in step S201, moves to the process of step S202, and transmitsthe user's registration request message to the user management server102. The user's registration request message contains the user ID of theuser who logged in.

Receiving the user's registration request message transmitted from theTV 4-1 in step S171, the user management server 102 matches the user IDcontained in the message to the device name of the TV 4-1 which the userlog in, and registers them into the user database.

The TV 4-1 transmits the device list request message to the usermanagement server 102 in step S203. The device list request messagecontains the user ID of the user logging in the TV 4-1.

In step S172, the user management server 102 receives the device listrequest message transmitted from the TV 4-1, moves to the process ofstep S173, and transmits the device list response message containing thelist of the devices registered in the user database, to the TV 4-1 whichis the transmission source of the device list request message.

In step S204, the TV 4-1 receives the device list response messagetransmitted from the user management server 102, and waits until theinsertion notifying message for notifying that the medium is insertedfrom another device is transmitted (waits for step S205 of FIG. 24).

On the other hand, accepting the log-in by the user in step S151, theDVD player 2 moves to the process of step S152, and transmits the user'sregistration request message to the user management server 102. Theuser's registration request message contains the user ID of the user whologged in.

In step S174, the user management server 102 receives the user'sregistration request message, and registers, into the user database, theuser information including the user ID contained in the message and thedevice name acquired on the basis of the network address. At this time,therefore, the user information containing the network address of the TV4-1 and the user ID of the user who logged into the TV 4-1, as well asthe user information containing the network address of the DVD player 2and the user ID of the user who logged into the DVD player 2 areregistered into the user database.

Further, in step S153, in a case where the user inserts the medium inthe DVD player 2, the DVD player 2 moves to the process of step S154,and transmits the content registration request message to the contentmanagement server 101. The content registration request message containsthe resource ID with which the DVD player 2 specifies the insertedmedium.

Receiving the content registration request message, in step S191 thecontent management server 101 registers, into the content database, theresource ID contained in the content registration request message, thedevice name of the DVD player 2 which is the transmission source of themessage, and the content information containing the time of receivingthe message. It is noted that the content information registered here isused in a case where the user further logs into another display devicesubsequent to logging into the TV 4-1 and the DVD player 2. In otherwords, in another display device into which the user logged, the sameprocess as the process for the TV 4-1 as described with reference toFIG. 21 and FIG. 22 is performed, and the content information isacquired by way of the process in the step, S136.

In step S155, the DVD player 2 transmits the device list request messageto the user management server 102. The device list request messagecontains the user ID of the user logging in the DVD player 2.

Receiving the device list request message in step S175, the usermanagement server 102 reads the user information including the same userID as the user ID contained in the device list request message, from auser database. Further, the user management server 102 moves to theprocess of step S176, and transmits the device list response messagecontaining the read user information to the DVD player 2 which is thetransmission source of the device list request message. In this example,since the user logging in the DVD player 2 has already logged in also tothe TV 4-1, the network address of the TV 4-1 is notified to the DVDplayer 2 by means of the device list request message.

Receiving the device list response message in step S156, the DVD player2 checks whether or not there is a device other than the DVD player 2 inthe device list contained in the message. In this example, since thedevice name of the TV 4-1 which is a device other than the DVD player 2is in the device list, the DVD player 2 transmits the insertionnotifying message for notifying that the medium is found, to the TV 4-1.The insertion notifying message contains the resource ID, and thenetwork address of the DVD player 2.

In step S205, the TV 4-1 receives the insertion notifying messagetransmitted from the DVD player 2. After saving the resource ID, thenetwork address, etc. which are contained in the insertion notifyingmessage, the process moves to step S206, and the message is displayedwhich notifies that the new medium is found in the DVD player 2.

For example, when the user operates the remote controller for the TV4-1, and issues instructions to reproduce the content indicated as beingfound by way of pop-up etc., the TV 4-1 accepts the instructions in stepS207, moves to the process of step S208, and transmits the reproductionrequest message for requesting to reproduce the content, to the DVDplayer 2 which has notified the insertion notifying message. Since thereproduction request message contains the resource ID, the DVD player 2having received the reproduction request message can specify the contentwhich is requested to be produced.

When the reproduction request message from the TV 4-1 is received instep S158, the DVD player 2 generates the reproduction response messagecontaining the content specified by the resource ID contained in thereproduction request message, moves to the process of step S159, andtransmits the reproduction response message to the TV 4-1.

Receiving the reproduction response message in step S209, the TV 4-1reproduces the content contained in the message.

In this way, the device logging in is managed by the user managementserver 102, and also the content recorded on the inserted medium ismanaged by the content management server 101, and the content preparedby the user can be reproduced on the basis of the managed data throughthe display device in which a certain user logs, so that the user canuse the content easily, without performing a setup about thetransmission destination or the transmission source of the content, etc.

Further, the user does not need to be conscious of the order of logginginto the storage device and the display device, or symbolic concepts,such as the network address, the device name, etc. Furthermore, on thebasis of the information, such as the user ID, the display device usedby a certain user displays thereon only the information about thecontent prepared by the user (message of the medium having been found),so that the user does not need to be conscious of existence of otherusers who are using other devices on the network 1.

Now, a structure of each device of the content provision system in FIG.18 which performs the above operation will be described. In addition,since the structures of the DVD player 2, the TV 4-1, and the TV 4-2 inFIG. 18 are fundamentally similar to those shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4respectively, the description of them will not be repeated.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing a structural example of the contentmanagement server 101 of FIG. 18.

A CPU 111 controls an overall operation of the content management server101 through a bus 114 according to the control program stored in a ROM(not shown) and a main memory unit 112. For example, the control programis implemented by the CPU 111, so that a message management unit 121 anda content database management unit 122 are realized.

The message management unit 121 of the CPU 111 managestransmission/reception of the message to/from the device connected tothe network 1. The content database management unit 122 manages contentinformation which is provided from the DVD player 2 etc. and is to beregistered into the content database.

The main memory unit 112 stores the control program implemented by theCPU 111 besides the content database as shown in FIG. 19, various typesof setup data by the user, etc. A content database storage area 123where the content database is stored is formed in the main memory unit112.

A communications unit 113 controls the communications with anotherdevice through the network 1. A timer unit 115 notifies the time instantat that time according to a request from the CPU 111. The timeinformation acquired from the timer unit 115 is included in the contentinformation, and stored together with the resource ID of the contentetc. in the content database storage area 123.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram showing a structural example of the usermanagement server 102 of FIG. 18.

A CPU 131 controls an overall operation of the user management server102 through a bus 134 according to the control program stored by a ROM(not shown) and a main memory unit 132. For example, the control programis implemented by the CPU 131, so that a message management unit 141 anda user database management unit 142 are realized.

The message management unit 141 manages transmission/reception of themessage to/from the device connected to the network 1. The user databasemanagement unit 142 is provided from the DVD player 2 etc., and managesthe user information registered in the user database.

The main memory unit 132 stores the control program implemented by theCPU 131 besides the user database as shown in FIG. 20, various types ofsetup information by the user, etc. The user database storage area 143where the user database is stored is formed in the main memory unit 132.

A communications unit 133 controls communications with another devicethrough the network 1.

Next, with reference to flow charts of FIGS. 27 through 30, processingby means of the DVD player 2 in the content provision system of FIG. 18will be described in detail. This processing is performed, for example,at a predetermined time when the DVD player 2 is connected to thenetwork 1, or when a power source of the DVD player 2 connected to thenetwork 1 is turned ON, etc.

In step S221, the CPU 11 stores the default user ID in the user IDstorage area 24 and initializes it. Further, in a case where an eventarises, the CPU 11 acquires the event in step S222. In the DVD player 2,a fact that the user logged in, a fact that the medium was inserted inthe optical disc drive 16, a fact that the medium was ejected from theoptical disc drive 16, and a fact that the reproduction request messagewas received are acquired as events, for example.

In step S223, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the user has loggedin on the basis of the output from the input unit 15. The log-in by theuser is performed such that the user operates a keyboard etc. and inputsthe user ID and the password.

Further, the user may bring a contactless IC card into proximity with areader provided on a surface of the DVD player 2 so as to read anidentification data stored in the contactless IC card and performlog-in. Naturally, the log-in may be any type of method that identifieseach user, and it may be performed using so-called biometrics, such asreading a user's fingerprint. For example, when a fingerprintauthentication unit is prepared for a tray button operated for taking atray of the optical disc drive 16 in and out, the user can log in easilyin the case of inserting the disc. These various types of log-in methodsare carried out also in display devices to be set forth later, such asthe TV 4-1.

When it is determined in step S223 that the user logged in, the processmoves to step S227 (FIG. 28), and the CPU 11 causes the user ID storagearea 24 to save the user ID of the user who logged in.

In step S228, the message management unit 21 of the CPU 11 transmits theuser's registration request message containing the user ID saved in theuser ID storage area 24 and the network address of the DVD player 2itself, to the user management server 102.

In step S229, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the medium isinserted in the optical disc drive 16. In a case where it is determinedthat the medium is not inserted in it, the processes in steps S230 andS231 are skipped, and processes in step S222 and steps subsequentthereto are performed. Further, in a case where it is determined in stepS229 that the medium is inserted in it, the CPU 11 moves to the processof step S230.

In step S230, the CPU 11 ejects the already inserted medium before theuser logging in at that time logs in. Thus, a user who newly logs in caneasily replace it by a medium on which the content desired to be viewedand listened to is recorded.

The message management unit 21 of the CPU 11 transmits a contentdeletion request message for requesting that the registration of thecontent recorded on the ejected medium should be deleted from thecontent database, to the content management server 101 in step S231. Theresource ID of the ejected medium is included in the content deletionrequest message, and deletion of the content information is carried outin the content management server 101 having received this message (stepS288 of FIG. 36B to be set forth later). Therefore, the content recordedon the ejected medium cannot be reproduced. After the content deletionrequest message is transmitted, the processes in step S222 and stepssubsequent thereto are performed.

In a case where it is determined in step S223 (FIG. 27) that the userhas not logged in, the CPU 11 moves to the process of step S224, anddetermines whether or not a medium is newly inserted.

In step S224, in a case where it is determined that a medium is newlyinserted, the CPU 11 moves to the process of step S232 (FIG. 29). Instep S232, the message management unit 21 of the CPU 11 creates thecontent registration request message for requesting to register thecontent recorded on the newly inserted medium, and transmits it to thecontent management server 101. The content registration request messagecontains the network address of the DVD player 2 and the resource ID ofthe medium. Upon receiving this message, the content management server101 registers the content information (step S287 of FIG. 36A).

In step S233, the CPU 11 reads the user ID stored in the user ID storagearea 24 when the user logged in, moves to the process of step S234, andtransmits the device list request message containing the read user ID,to the content management server 101. In response to receiving thedevice list request message, a device into which the user logging inlogs the DVD player 2 is searched in the content management server 101,so as to transmit the device list response message containing the listof the device names of the searched device (step S309 of FIG. 39).

In step S235, the CPU 11 receives the device list response messagetransmitted from the user management server 102, and moves to theprocess of step S236.

In step S236, with reference to the device list included in the devicelist response message, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the devicelist has a device name of a device other than itself, that is a devicename of another device, which is connected to the network 1, which theuser logging in the DVD player 2 logs in.

In step S236, when the CPU 11 determines that there is a device nameother than itself in the device list contained in the device listresponse message, moves the process to step S237, and transmits theinsertion notifying message for notifying that a medium is inserted, tothe device other than itself. For example, in a case where the user hasalready logged in the TV 4-1 before logging in the DVD player 2, thedevice name of the TV 4-1 which is a device name other than the DVDplayer 2 is included in the device list contained in the device listresponse message to be received, so that the CPU 11 transmits theinsertion notifying message to the TV 4-1.

After transmitting the insertion notifying message, or in step S236, ina case where it is determined that there is no device names other thanitself in the device list contained in the device list response message,the processes in step S222 and steps subsequent thereto are performed.

On the other hand, in step S224 (FIG. 27), in a case where the CPU 11determines that a medium is not inserted, the process moves to stepS225, and subsequently it is determined whether or not a medium has beenejected. In step S225, in a case where it is determined that the mediumhas been ejected, the CPU 11 performs the above-mentioned processes instep S231 (FIG. 28) and steps subsequent thereto. In other words, theCPU 11 transmits the content deletion request message to the contentmanagement server 101, and performs the processes thereafter.

In step S225, in a case where it is determined that the medium has notbeen ejected, the process moves to step S226, and the CPU 11 determineswhether or not the reproduction request message has been received. Instep S226, in a case where it is determined that the reproductionrequest message has not been received, the process returns to step S222,the CPU 11 repeats the processes in the step and steps thereafter. Onthe other hand, in a case where it is determined that the insertionnotifying message is received, the process moves to step S238 (FIG. 30).The device having transmitted the insertion notifying message asdescribed above, displays on a screen that the medium is found. Inresponse to this, when the user issues an instruction to reproduce thecontent, the reproduction request message containing the resource ID istransmitted.

In step S238, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the mediumcorresponding to the resource ID contained in the reproduction requestmessage is inserted. In a case where it is determined that the medium isinserted, the process moves to step S239.

In step S239, the message management unit 21 of the CPU 11 generates thereproduction response message including the content recorded on themedium inserted in the optical disc drive 16, and transmits thegenerated reproduction response message to the device of thetransmission source of the reproduction request message.

Thus, the content contained in the message is reproduced in the devicehaving received the reproduction response message. After transmittingthe reproduction response message or in step S238, in a case where it isdetermined that the medium corresponding to the resource ID contained inthe reproduction request message is not inserted, the processes in stepS222 and steps subsequent thereto are performed.

It is noted that, for example, in a case where it is determined that themedium corresponding to the resource ID contained in the reproductionrequest message is not inserted, a predetermined message may betransmitted to the TV 4-1 having transmitted the content reproductionrequest message, such that the user is indicated with a fact that themedium is not inserted.

Next, with reference to flow charts of FIG. 31 through FIG. 34 (FIG. 34Aand FIG. 34B), processing by the TV 4-1 in the content provision systemof FIG. 18 will be described in detail.

In step S251, the CPU 31 initializes the content position informationstorage area 44, and moves to the process of step S252. In a case wherean event arises, the CPU 31 acquires the event. In the TV 4-1, forexample, a fact that the log-in by the user was performed, a fact thatthe device list response message transmitted from the user managementserver 102 was received, a fact that the content list response messagetransmitted from the content management server 101 was received, a factthat the reproduction of content was instructed, a fact that thereproduction response message was received, and a fact that theinsertion notifying message was received are acquired as events.

In step S253, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the user has loggedin on the basis of the output from the input unit 35. In a case where itis determined that the user has logged in, the process moves to stepS259 (FIG. 32A).

In step S259, the message management unit 41 of the CPU 31 transmits theuser's registration request message containing the user ID of the userwho logged in, and the network address of the TV 4-1, to the usermanagement server 102.

Further, in step S260, the message management unit 41 of the CPU 31transmits the device list request message to the user management server102, and then performs processes in step S252 and steps subsequentthereto. In the user management server 102 having received the devicelist request message, the user database is searched, and the device listresponse message containing the list of the devices which the userlogging in the TV 4-1 logs in is transmitted (step S309 of FIG. 39 to beset forth later).

On the other hand, in a case where it is determined in step S253 (FIG.31) that the user has not logged in, the CPU 31 moves to the process ofstep S254, and determines whether or not the device list responsemessage has been received.

In step S254, in a case where it is determined that the device listresponse message has been received, the process moves to step S261 (FIG.32B). With reference to the device list contained in the device listresponse message, the CPU 31 determines whether or not there is a devicename other than that of itself, that is, whether or not the user loggingin the TV 4-1 also logs in another device.

In step S261, in a case where the CPU 31 determines that there is adevice name other than itself in the device list included in the devicelist response message, the process moves to step S262. In step S262, themessage management unit 41 of the CPU 31 transmits the content listrequest message for requesting to transmit the content list to thecontent management server 101, then performs the processes in step S252and thereafter. In the content management server 101 having received thecontent list request message, the content prepared by the user loggingin the TV 4-1 is searched, and the device list response messagecontaining the content position information on the content prepared mostrecently is transmitted (step S293 of FIG. 37, as will be describedlater).

On the other hand, in a case where the CPU 31 determines in step S254(FIG. 31) that the device list response message has not been received,the process moves to step S255, and it is determined whether or not thecontent list response message has been received.

In a case where the CPU 31 determines in step S255 that the content listresponse message has been received, moves to the process of step S263(FIG. 33A), and determines whether or not the content positioninformation is contained in the received content list response message.

In a case where it is determined in step S263 that the content positioninformation is contained in the content list response message, theprocess moves to step S264, and the content position information issaved in the content position information storage area 44.

In step S265, the indication unit 43 of the CPU 31 causes the displayunit 36 to display a message for notifying that the recently insertedmedium is found. Here, for example, the window 61 as described withreference to FIG. 10 is displayed on the display unit 36 so that theuser can issue an instruction to reproduce the content in response tothis display. Then, the process moves to step S252 and the processes inthe step and thereafter are performed.

In step S255 (FIG. 31), in a case where it is determined that thecontent list response message has not been received, the CPU 31 moves tothe process of step S256, and determines whether or not the reproductionof the content has been instructed by the user.

In step S256, in a case where the CPU 31 determines that thereproduction of the content has been instructed, the process moves tostep S266 (FIG. 33B). In step S266, with reference to the contentposition information (the network address, the resource ID) stored inthe content position information storage area 44, the message managementunit 41 of the CPU 31 generates the reproduction request messagecontaining the resource ID and destined for the stored network address,and transmits the generated reproduction request message from thecommunications unit 33. The reproduction response message containing thecontent which is read on the basis of the resource ID is transmittedfrom the DVD player 2 having received the reproduction request message,for example (step S239 of FIG. 30). Then, the processes in step S252 andthereafter are performed.

In step S256 (FIG. 31), in a case where it is determined that thereproduction of content has not been instructed by the user, the processmoves to step S257, and the CPU 31 determines whether or not thereproduction response message has been received. In step S257, in a casewhere it is determined that the reproduction response message has beenreceived, the CPU 31 moves to the process of step S267 (FIG. 34A).

In step S267, the content output control unit 42 of the CPU 31reproduces the content such that the image of the content contained inthe reproduction response message may be displayed on the display unit36, and then performs the processes in step S252 and steps subsequentthereto. Thus, the user can easily view and listen to the contentinserted in the DVD player 2 by means of the TV 4-1 via the network 1without performing a complicated setup etc.

On the other hand, in a case where it is determined that thereproduction response message has not been received in step S257 (FIG.31), the process moves to step S258. In step S258, the CPU 31 determineswhether or not the insertion notifying message has been received. In acase where it is determined that it has not been received, the processreturns to step S252, and the processes in the steps thereafter arerepeatedly performed.

On the other hand, in a case where it is determined in step S258 thatthe insertion notifying message has been received, the process moves tostep S268 (FIG. 34B), and the CPU 31 causes the content positioninformation storage area 44 to save the content position informationincluded in the insertion notifying message.

In step S269, the indication unit 43 of the CPU 31 causes the displayunit 36 to display the message for notifying the user that the newmedium is found. The process returns to step S252, and the processes inthe steps thereafter are performed.

Next, with reference to flow charts of FIGS. 35 through 37, processingby the content management server 101 in the content provision system ofFIG. 18 will be described in detail.

In step S281, the content database management unit 122 (FIG. 25) of theCPU 111 initializes the content database stored in the content databasestorage area 123.

In step S282, in a case where an event arises, the CPU 111 acquires theevent. In the content management server 101, for example, a fact thatthe content registration request message was received, a fact that acontent registration deletion request message was received, and a factthat the content list request message was received are acquired as theevents.

In step S283, the CPU 111 determines whether or not the contentregistration request message has been received. In a case where it isdetermined that it has been received, the process moves to step S286(FIG. 36A). For example, when the medium is inserted in the DVD player2, the content registration request message containing the networkaddress of the DVD player 2 and the resource ID of medium is transmittedfrom the DVD player 2.

In step S286 the CPU 111 acquires the current time from the timer unit115, and the process moves to step S287. In step S287, the contentdatabase management unit 122 of the CPU 111 registers, into the contentdatabase, the current time acquired in step S286 as the contentinformation together with the resource ID and the device name acquiredbased on the network address which are contained in the received contentregistration request message. Then, processes in step S282 and stepssubsequent thereto are performed.

On the other hand, in a case where it is determined in step S283 thatthe content registration request message has not been received, the CPU111 moves to the process of step S284, and determines whether or not thecontent registration deletion request message has been received. Forexample, when the medium inserted in the DVD player 2 is ejected, thecontent registration deletion request message for requesting to deletethe registration of the content information is transmitted from the DVDplayer 2 (step S231 of FIG. 28).

In step S284, in a case where it is determined that the contentregistration deletion request message has been received, the messagemanagement unit 121 of the CPU 111 moves to the process of step S288(FIG. 36B), and deletes the content information containing the samedevice name and the same resource ID from the content database on thebasis of the device name and the resource ID which are contained in thecontent registration deletion request message. Thus, a plurality piecesof content information containing the same device name and the sameresource ID are not registered in the content database. Then, theprocess moves to step S282 and the processes in the steps thereafter areperformed.

In step S284 (FIG. 35), in a case where it is determined that thecontent registration deletion request message has not been received, theCPU 111 moves the process to step S285, and determines whether or notthe content list request message has been received. In step S285, in acase where it is determined that the content list request message hasnot been received, the process returns to step S282, and the processesin the step and steps subsequent thereto are repeatedly performed. Onthe other hand, in a case where it is determined that the content listrequest message has been received, the process moves to step S289 (FIG.37).

For example, in the TV 4-1, in a case where it is checked that the userlogging in the TV 4-1 also logs in the DVD player 2, the content listrequest message for requesting the list of reproducible contents istransmitted from the TV 4-1 to the content management server 101 (stepS262 of FIG. 32B). As described above, the content list request messagecontains all the device names included in the device list responsemessage and notified to the TV 4-1, i.e., the device names of all thedevices which the user logging in the TV 4-1 logs in.

In step S289, the content database management unit 122 of the CPU 111searches the content database for the content information including thesame device name as the device name contained in the content listrequest message. Therefore, for example, in a case where the userlogging in the TV 4-1 also logs in the DVD player 2 and the device nameof the DVD player 2 is contained in the content list request message,the content information registered by the DVD player 2 is acquired fromthe content database as content information about the search results.

In step S290, as to the search results of the content information, theCPU 111 determines whether or not there is the content informationincluding the same device name as the device name contained in thecontent list request message.

In step S290, when the CPU 111 determines that there is not the contentinformation which includes the same device name as the device namecontained in the content list request message, the process moves to stepS291. In step S291, the message management unit 121 of the CPU 111transmits the content list response message which does not include thecontent information, to the device of the transmission source of thecontent list request message. Therefore, in this case, there is nocontent to be viewed and listened to in the TV 4-1 which is the deviceof the transmission destination of the content list response message,etc.

On the other hand, in step S290, in a case where it is determined thatthere is the content information including the same device name as thedevice name contained in the content list request message, the processmoves to step S292, and the CPU 111 selects the latest contentinformation (content information registered most recently) on the basisof the registration time contained in the content information.

The message management unit 121 of the CPU 111 transmits the contentlist response message containing the latest content information selectedin step S292, to the device of the transmitter of the content listrequest message in step S293. For example, in response to receiving thismessage, the TV 4-1 shows that the medium is found. Therefore, inresponse to the display, the user can easily reproduce the mediuminserted immediately before by issuing an instruction to reproduce thecontent.

In step S291 or S293, after the content list response message istransmitted, the processes in step S282 and steps subsequent thereto areperformed.

Next, with reference to flowcharts of FIG. 38 (FIG. 38A and FIG. 38B)and FIG. 39, processing by the user management server 102 in the contentprovision system of FIG. 18 will be described in detail.

In step S301, the user database management unit 142 of the CPU 131initializes the user database stored in the user database storage area143.

In step S302, when an event arises, the CPU 131 acquires the event. Inthe user management server 102, a fact that the user's registrationrequest message was received and a fact that the device list requestmessage was received are acquired as the events, for example.

In step S303, the CPU 131 determines whether or not the user'sregistration request message has been received. In a case where it isdetermined that it has been received, the process moves to step S305(FIG. 38B). In step S305, on the basis of the network address includedin the user's registration request message, the user database managementunit 142 of the CPU 131 acquires the device name of the device which theuser logged in, and registers the acquired device name and the user IDas the user information, into the user database. Then, the process movesto step S302 and processes in the steps thereafter are performed.

On the other hand, in a case where it is determined in step S303 thatthe user's registration request message has not been received, the CPU131 moves the process to step S304, and determines whether or not thedevice list request message has been transmitted. The device listrequest message is transmitted when requiring the list of the deviceswhich the same user logs in from the TV 4-1 which the user logged inetc. (step S260 of FIG. 32A).

In step S304, in a case where it is determined that the device listrequest message has not been received, the CPU 131 returns to theprocess of step S302, and the processes in the steps thereafter arerepeatedly performed. On the other hand, in a case where it isdetermined that the device list request message has been received, theprocess moves to step S306 (FIG. 39).

In step S306, the CPU 131 searches the user database for the userinformation containing the same user ID as the user ID contained in thedevice list request message.

In step S307, as for the search results of the user information, the CPU131 determines whether or not there is the user information containingthe same user ID as the user ID contained in the device list requestmessage.

In step S307, in a case where it is determined that there is not theuser information which includes the same user ID as the user IDcontained in the device list request message, the CPU 131 moves to theprocess of step S308 and transmits the device list response messagewhich does not contain user information, to the device of thetransmission source of the device list request message.

On the other hand, in step S307, in a case where the CPU 131 determinesthat there is the user information including the same user ID as theuser ID contained in the device list request message, the process movesto step S309. In step S309, the message management unit 141 of the CPU131 transmits the device list response message containing the userinformation acquired by search, to the device of the transmission sourceof the device list request message. After the content list responsemessage is transmitted in step S308 or S309, the processes in step S302and steps subsequent thereto are performed.

In the content provision system of FIG. 18, since such processes asdescribed above are performed by each device, after the user logs in apredetermined storage device, such as the DVD player 2, and inserts themedium, the user may only issue an instruction to reproduce the contentthrough the display device, such as the TV 4-1 with which the user wantsto view and listen to the content, so that the user can view and listento the content recorded on the medium prepared immediately before.

Further, even in a case of logging in the display device previously andlogging in the storage device after that, the user can make use of thecontent recorded on the medium inserted in storage device by means ofthe display device, without caring about the order of logging in etc.,since the user information and the content information are managed ineach server,

In addition, although the content management server 101 and the usermanagement server 102 are each constituted by physically differentdevices in the above description, the content information and the userinformation may be managed by one server having those functions so as torealize the content provision system of FIG. 18.

Further, in the above description, although the user is always presentedonly with the latest content (for example, the content recorded on themedium inserted most recently) as the found content, in a case where acertain user logs in a plurality of devices and prepares a medium foreach of them, the content to be reproduced may be arranged to beselected by the user out of the list of the contents recorded on theprepared media.

For example, the content information about the content recorded on themedium inserted in a certain storage device which the user logs in ismatched with the user ID, and managed by the content management server101 of FIG. 18. When the user operates the remote controller for the TV4-1 and issues an instruction to display of the list of the contents,the TV 4-1 asks the content management server 101 for the registeredlist of the contents, and the list of the contents recorded on themedium prepared by the user is displayed on the screen of the TV 4-1.The user can select the content to be reproduced from the list of thecontents displayed on the screen.

In this case, in the content management server 101, the content databaseas shown in FIG. 40 is managed, for example.

In the example of FIG. 40, the content information #1 and #2 areregistered. The content information #1 shows that a medium identified ashaving a resource ID “E:” and a content name “1234” is inserted into adevice of a device name “storage device 1”, by the user of a user ID“AAAA”. Similarly, the content information #2 shows that a mediumidentified as having a resource ID “D:” and a content ID “5678” isinserted into a device of a device name “storage device 2” by the sameuser (user ID “AAAA”) as the user who inserted the medium into thedevice having the device name “storage device 1.” This content name maybe beforehand assigned to the content, may be one that is generated bythe storage device itself, or may be inputted by the user at the time ofinserting the medium.

FIG. 41 shows a sequence of an operation by the content provisionsystem, in which the user thus displays the list of the contentsrecorded on the medium inserted by himself or herself, so as to selectthe content to be reproduced from the list. It is noted that, in thiscontent provision system, no process is carried out by the usermanagement server 102.

Accepting the log-in by the user in step S331, and then accepting theinsertion of the medium by the user in step S332, the DVD player 2 movesthe process to step S333, and transmits the content registration requestmessage to the content management server 101. The content registrationrequest message includes the user ID, the network address of the DVDplayer 2, the resource ID, and the content name.

In step S361, the content management server 101 receives the contentregistration request message, and the user ID, the network address, theresource ID, and the content name which are contained in the message areregistered with the content database, as the content information.

When the user logs into the TV 4-1 in a situation where the contentinformation on the medium inserted in the DVD player 2 is registered,the TV 4-1 receives it in step S371, moves the process to step S372, andtransmits the content list request message for requesting the list ofthe media inserted in other devices by the user who logged in, to thecontent management server 101. The content list request message includesthe user ID of the user who logged in.

Receiving the content list request message in step S362, the contentmanagement server 101 moves to the process of step S363. In step S363,on the basis of the user ID contained in the content list requestmessage, the content management server 101 acquires all the contentinformation including the user ID from the content database, andtransmits the content list response message containing the acquiredcontent information to the TV 4-1.

Receiving the device list response message in step S373, the TV 4-1moves to the process of step S374, and lists and displays the contentinformation contained in the device list response message. Thus, theuser can select the predetermined content from the listed and displayedones and issue an instruction to reproduce it.

When the user moves a cursor to select the content, the TV 4-1 receivesthe selection operation in step S375, moves to the process of step S376,and changes the display according to the operation of the user. Further,when the user issues an instruction to reproduce the predeterminedcontent out of the list of contents, the TV 4-1 accepts it in step S377.

In step S378, the TV 4-1 transmits the reproduction request messagecontaining the resource ID to the DVD player 2 which has the contentinstructed by the user to be reproduced.

Upon receiving the reproduction request message from the TV 4-1 in stepS334, the DVD player 2 generates the reproduction response messagecontaining the content specified by the resource ID contained in thereproduction request message, moves to the process of step S335, andtransmits the reproduction response message to the TV 4-1 which is thetransmission source of the reproduction request message.

The TV 4-1 which received the reproduction response message in step S379reproduces the content contained in the message.

According to the above processes, the user can select single content tobe reproduced out of a plurality of contents. It is noted that, forexample, a series of processes of displaying the list of contents areperformed, at the time when the user operates the remote controller andissues an instruction to display the list. Therefore, for example, whenthe user wishes to view and listen to content different from the contentindicated by way of pop-up as described above (content indicated bymeans of the screen as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 17), the user can viewand listen to a favorite content out of the list of contentsirrespective of the content indicated by way of pop-up.

Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIGS. 42 through 44 (FIG. 44Aand FIG. 44B), processing by the DVD player 2 in the content provisionsystem will be described in detail in which the content to be reproducedcan be selected from the list.

In step S391, the CPU 11 causes the user ID storage area 24 to store adefault user ID to initialize it.

When an event arises, the CPU 11 acquires the event in step S392. In theDVD player 2, for example, a fact that the user logged in, a fact thatthe medium was inserted in the optical disc drive 16, a fact that themedium was ejected from the optical disc drive 16, and a fact that thereproduction request message was received are acquired as the events.

In step S393, on the basis of the output from the input unit 15, the CPU11 determines whether or not the user has logged in. In a case where itis determined that the user has logged in, the process moves to stepS397 (FIG. 43).

The CPU 11 causes the user ID storage area 24 to save the user IDinputted at the time of the log-in, in step S397. In step S398, the CPU11 determines whether or not the medium is inserted in the optical discdrive 16 in step S398. When it is determined that the medium isinserted, the process moves to step S399.

In step S399, the CPU 11 ejects the already inserted medium at the timewhen the user logs in who currently logs in, and moves the process tostep S400. In step S400, the message management unit 21 of the CPU 11transmits, to the content management server 101, the content deletionrequest message for requesting that the registration of the contentinformation about the ejected medium should be erased from the contentdatabase. The resource ID of the content recorded on the ejected mediumis included in the content deletion request message. The contentinformation is deleted in the content management server 101 havingreceived the message (step S426 of FIG. 46A, as will be describedlater).

After the content deletion request message is transmitted, or after itis determined that the medium is not inserted in step S398, processes instep S392 and steps subsequent thereto are performed.

On the other hand, in step S393 (FIG. 42), when it is determined thatthe user is not logging in, the CPU 11 moves to the process of stepS394, and determines whether or not a medium is newly inserted.

In step S394, in a case where the CPU 11 determines that a medium hasnewly been inserted, the process moves to step S401 (FIG. 44A). In stepS401, the CPU 11 reads the user ID saved in the user ID storage area 24.

In step S402, the message management unit 21 of the CPU 11 creates thecontent registration request message containing the read user ID, andtransmits it to the content management server 101. The contentregistration request message contains the resource ID of the medium, thenetwork address of the DVD player 2, and the content name in addition tothe user ID. Registration of the content information is performed in thecontent management server 101 having received the content registrationrequest message (step S425 of FIG. 45B).

After a content registration request message is transmitted, theprocesses in step S392 and steps subsequent thereto are performed.

On the other hand, in step S394 (FIG. 42), in a case where the CPU 11determines that the medium is not inserted, moves to the process of stepS395, and determines whether or not the medium has been ejected. In stepS395, in a case where it is determined that the medium has been ejected,the CPU 11 performs processes in step S400 and steps subsequent theretoas described above. In other words, the message management unit 21 ofthe CPU 11 transmits the content deletion request message to the contentmanagement server 101, and performs the processes after it.

In step S395, in a case where it is determined that the medium has notbeen ejected, the process moves to step S396 and the CPU 11 determineswhether or not the reproduction request message has been received. Instep S396, in a case where it is determined that the reproductionrequest message has not been received, the CPU 11 returns the process tostep S392, and repeatedly carries out the processes in the stepssubsequent thereto. On the other hand, in a case where it is determinedthat the insertion notifying message has been received, the processmoves to step S403 (FIG. 44B).

In step S403, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the mediumcorresponding to the resource ID contained in the reproduction requestmessage is inserted. In a case where it is determined that the medium isnot inserted, the process moves to step S392 and the processes in thestep and steps thereafter are performed. On the other hand, in a casewhere it is determined that the medium is inserted in step S403, themessage management unit 21 of the CPU 11 generates the reproductionresponse message containing the content recorded on the medium insertedin the optical disc drive 16, and transmits the generated reproductionresponse message to the device having transmitted the reproductionrequest message.

The above processes are performed by each of the storage devicesconnected to the network 1, and the content recorded on the mediuminserted in each of them is managed by the content management server101.

Next, with reference flowcharts of FIG. 45 (FIG. 45A, FIG. 45B) and FIG.46 (FIG. 46A, FIG. 46B), processing by the content management server 101in the content provision system in which the content to be reproducedcan be selected from the list will be described in detail.

In step S421, in a case where an event arises, the CPU 111 of thecontent management server 101 acquires the event. In the contentmanagement server 101, a fact that the content registration requestmessage was received, a fact that the content registration deletionrequest message was received, and a fact that the content list requestmessage was received are acquired as the events, for example.

In step S422, the CPU 111 determines whether or not the contentregistration request message has been received. In a case where it isdetermined that is has been received, the process moves to step S425(FIG. 45B). For example, when the medium is inserted in the DVD player2, the content registration request message containing the networkaddress of user ID and the DVD player 2, the resource ID, and thecontent name is transmitted from the DVD player 2.

In step S425, the content database management unit 122 of the CPU 111registers, into the content database, the device name, the resource ID,the user ID, and the content name, which are acquired on the basis ofthe network address contained in the content registration requestmessage, as the content information. Then, the process moves to stepS421 and processes in the steps thereafter are performed.

On the other hand, in a case where it is determined in step S422 thatthe content registration request message has not been received, the CPU111 moves the process to step S423, and determines whether or not thecontent registration deletion request message has been received. Forexample, when the medium inserted in the DVD player 2 is ejected, themessage for requesting to delete the registration of the contentinformation is transmitted from the DVD player 2.

In step S423, when the CPU 111 determines that the content registrationdeletion request message has been received, moves the process to stepS426 (FIG. 46A). In step S426, the content database management unit 122of the CPU 111 deletes, from the content database, the contentinformation containing the device name, the same device name as theresource ID, and the resource ID, where the device name and the resourceID are contained in the content registration deletion request message.Then, the process returns to step S421 and the processes in the stepsthereafter are performed.

On the other hand, in step S423, in a case where it is determined thatthe content registration deletion request message has not been received,the CPU 111 moves to the process of step S424, and determines whether ornot the content list request message has been received. In step S424, ina case where it is determined that the content list request message hasnot been received, the CPU 111 returns the process to step S421, andrepeatedly carries out the processes in the steps thereafter. On theother hand, in a case where it is determined that the content listrequest message has been received, the process moves to step S427 (FIG.46B). For example, in the TV 4-1 which is the display device, in a casewhere displaying the list of content is instructed by the user, thecontent list request message for requesting the list of the contentprepared for the device into which the user logs is transmitted from theTV 4-1.

In step S427, the content database management unit 122 of the CPU 111searches the content database for the content information containing thesame user ID as the user ID contained in the content list requestmessage.

In step S427, the message management unit 121 of the CPU 111 transmitsthe content list response message containing all the content informationacquired by the search, to the device of the transmitter of the contentlist request message. In the TV 4-1 having received the content listresponse message, etc., the list of the content prepared by the userlogging in the TV 4-1 is displayed on the screen, so that the user canselect the predetermined content to be reproduced out of the list.

After transmitting the content list response message, the processreturns to step S421 and the processes in the steps thereafter areperformed.

Next, with reference to flowcharts of FIG. 47 through FIG. 49 (FIG. 49A,and FIG. 49B), processing by the TV 4-1 in the content provision systemin which the content to be reproduced can be selected from the list willbe described in detail.

In step S441, the CPU 31 initializes the content list storage area 71(FIG. 11) such that content position information may not be stored, andalso initializes the content selection information.

Further, in step S442, in a case where an event arises, the CPU 31acquires the event. In the TV 4-1, a fact that the log-in was performedby the user, a fact that the content list response message transmittedfrom the content management server 101 was received, a fact that theselection operation of the content was performed by the user, a factthat the reproduction of the content was instructed, and a fact that thereproduction response message was received are acquired as the events,for example.

In step S443, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the user has loggedin on the basis of the output from the input unit 35. When it isdetermined that the user has logged in, the process moves to step S448(FIG. 48A).

In step S448, the message management unit 41 of the CPU 31 transmits thecontent list request message containing the user ID of the user whologged in the content management server 101, then performs the processesin step S422 and steps subsequent thereto. In the content managementserver 101 having received the content list request message, the devicelist response message containing the list of the content prepared by theuser logging in the TV 4-1 is transmitted (step S428 of FIG. 46).

On the other hand, in a case where it is determined in step S443 (FIG.47) that the user has not logged in, the process moves to step S444, andthe CPU 31 determines whether or not the content list response messagehas been received.

In step S444, in a case where it is determined that the content listresponse message has been received, the process moves to step S449 (FIG.48B). The CPU 31 causes the content list storage area 71 to store thecontent list contained in the content list response message.

Further, in step S450, the CPU 31 initializes the content selectioninformation and displays on a screen the content list in a situationwhere default content is chosen by a cursor. For example, a device nameof a device having content, in addition to a content name, etc. aredisplayed on the content list, whereby the user can select thepredetermined content to be reproduced. Then, the process moves to stepS442 and processes in the steps thereafter are performed.

On the other hand, in step S444, in a case where it is determined thatthe content list response message has not been received, the processmoves to step S445, and the CPU 31 determines whether or not theselection operation of the content, such as, for example, movement ofthe cursor has been performed by the user.

When it is determined in step S445 that the selection operation ofcontent has been carried out, the CPU 31 moves to the process of stepS451 (FIG. 48C), switches the contents selected on the basis of thecontent selection information according to the operation by the user,and reflects it onto the screen display. Thus, in conjunction with theuser's operation, the cursor as shown in FIG. 17 moves, and isdisplayed. Then, the process returns to step S442, and the processes inthe step and steps subsequent thereto are performed.

In step S446, in a case where the CPU 31 determines that thereproduction of content has been instructed, the process moves to stepS452 (FIG. 49A). In step S452, with reference to the content selectioninformation, the CPU 31 acquires the device name and the resource ID ofthe device having the content instructed by the user to be reproduced,from the content information stored in the content list storage area 71.

In step S453 the message management unit 41 of the CPU 31 transmits thereproduction request message to the device having the content instructedby the user to be reproduced on the basis of the data acquired in stepS452. The reproduction response message containing the content read onthe basis of the resource ID is transmitted from the DVD player 2 havingreceived the reproduction request message, for example. Then, theprocess returns to step S442 and the processes in the step and stepssubsequent thereto are performed.

In a case where it is determined that the reproduction of the contenthas not been instructed by the user in step S446 (FIG. 47), the processmoves to step S447. The CPU 31 determines whether or not thereproduction response message has been received. In a case where it isdetermined that it has not been received, the process returns to stepS442, and the processes in the step and steps subsequent thereto arerepeatedly performed. Further, in step S447, in a case where it isdetermined that the reproduction response message has been received, theCPU 31 moves to the process of step S454 (FIG. 49B).

In step S454, the content output control unit 42 of the CPU 31 outputsthe content contained in the reproduction response message, moves to theprocess of step S442, and repeatedly performs the processes in the stepand step subsequent thereto.

According to the above processes, the user can display the list of theplurality of contents prepared by himself or herself at any time, andcan select, from them, the predetermined content to be viewed andlistened to.

In the above, an example is mainly described where the contents used bythe user are video image contents which can be used in the displaydevice, such as the TV 4-1. Similarly, a fact that a removable medium,having music contents recorded thereon, such as a CD-ROM (CompactDisk-Read Only Memory), an MD (MiniDisk) (registered trademark), etc.,is inserted into another device, may be automatically displayed on thedevice used by the user, so that the reproduction of the content can beinstructed from the device.

Further, a fact that a still image which can be printed is found isautomatically displayed in a printer, in response to a digital camerabeing connected to the network 1, so that printing of the still imagemay be instructed from the printer.

Furthermore, in the above, when the medium (removable medium) isinserted, a fact that the reproducible content was found is displayed onTV set etc., however, it is not limited to the content recorded on theremovable medium. But, in response to completion of downloading thecontent from a predetermined server connected to the Internet, a factthat the reproducible content was found may be displayed automatically.

A series of processes as described above can be performed by means ofhardware and also by way of software.

In a case where a series of processes are performed by way of software,a computer program which constitutes the software is installed, over anetwork or from a recording medium, in a computer built in dedicatedhardware or a general purpose personal computer in which various typesof programs are installed so as to execute various types of functions,for example.

The recording medium may be not only package media including a DVD disc3 (FIG. 1), a flexible disk, a magneto-optical discs, or a semiconductormemory which are apart from the apparatus itself, distributed in orderto provide the user with the program, but also a ROM, a hard disk, etc.on which the program is recorded and which are provided for the user,being pre-installed in the apparatus itself.

It is noted that, in the specification, steps which describe thecomputer program recorded in the recording medium include processesperformed in a chronological order according to the description but alsoprocesses carried out in parallel or individually, even if they are notnecessarily processed in chronological order.

Further, in this specification, “system” means an overall arrangementconstituted with a plurality of apparatuses.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the first invention, it is possible to provide content andoutput the provided content easily and quickly.

According to the second invention, it is possible to notify an outputapparatus that the content is acquired.

Further, according to the second invention, it is possible to easily andquickly provide the output apparatus with the content requested by theoutput apparatus, without a setup by the user etc.

According to the third invention, it is possible to easily check thatthe content is acquired in a information processing apparatus connectedvia a network.

Further, according to the third invention, the content acquired by theinformation processing apparatus can be used easily and quickly throughthe network.

1. A content provision system comprising an information processingapparatus, an output apparatus, a content management server whichmanages content, and a user management server which manages informationregarding a user who is logging in, connected via a network, said systemcharacterized in that: said information processing apparatus ischaracterized by: including: acquisition means which acquires thecontent without using said network; recognition means which recognizesthat said user logged in said network on the basis of an operation thatthe user carried out toward the information processing apparatus;transmission/reception means which carries out transmission/reception ofinformation via said network; and provision means which providespredetermined content to said output apparatus which requests provisionof said predetermined content, transmitting a user registration requestmessage containing user identification information of the user who isrecognized to have logged in by said recognition means and a deviceidentification number of the information processing apparatus, andreceiving information regarding the output apparatus which is connectedto said network in which said user is logging in, recognizing the outputapparatus in which said user is logging in on the basis of theinformation received from said user management server, and in a case ofreceiving the predetermined content by said acquisition means,transmitting a content registration request message to said contentmanagement server, and transmitting a message indicating thatpredetermined content has been acquired, said message containingposition information indicating a position of said predeterminedcontent, and being necessary for said output apparatus which said useris logging in to acquire said predetermined content to the outputapparatus which said user is logging in, and said output apparatus ischaracterized by including: indication means which indicates that thereis outputable content in response to reception of the messagetransmitted from said information processing apparatus; and output meanswhich requests said information processing apparatus to provide saidpredetermined content and allows a user to view and listen to saidpredetermined content provided from said information processingapparatus, in a case where said predetermined content is instructed tobe outputted in response to the indication by said indication means. 2.An information processing apparatus connected via a network to a contentmanagement server which manages content, a user management server whichmanages information regarding a user who is logging in and an outputapparatus which outputs the content, said information processingapparatus is characterized by: including: acquisition means whichacquires the content without using said network; recognition means whichrecognizes that said user logged in said network on the basis of anoperation that the user carried out toward the information processingapparatus; transmission/reception means which carries outtransmission/reception of information via said network; and provisionmeans which provides predetermined content to said output apparatuswhich requests provision of said predetermined content, transmitting tosaid user management server a user registration request messagecontaining user identification information of the user who is recognizedto have logged in by said recognition means and a device identificationnumber of the information processing apparatus, and receivinginformation regarding the output apparatus which is connected to saidnetwork in which said user is logging in, identifying the outputapparatus in which said user is logging in on the basis of theinformation received from said user management server, and in a case ofreceiving the predetermined content by said acquisition means,transmitting a content registration request message to said contentmanagement server, and transmitting a message indicating thatpredetermined content is acquired, said message containing positioninformation indicating a position of said predetermined content, andbeing necessary for said output apparatus which said user is logging into acquire said predetermined content to the output apparatus which saiduser is logging in.
 3. The information processing apparatus as claimedin claim 2, characterized in that said acquisition means acquires saidcontent in response to being equipped with a detachable recordingmedium.
 4. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 2,characterized in that said recognition means recognizes that said userhas logged in by reading identification information of the user storedin a contactless IC card.
 5. The information processing apparatus asclaimed in claim 2, characterized in that said recognition meansrecognizes that said user has logged in by authenticating a fingerprintof the user.
 6. An information processing method of an informationprocessing apparatus connected via a network to a content managementserver which manages content, a user management server which managesinformation regarding a user who is logging in and an output apparatuswhich outputs the content, said method characterized by: including: anacquisition step of acquiring the content without using said network; arecognition step of recognizing that said user logged in said network onthe basis of an operation that the user carried out toward theinformation processing apparatus; a transmission/reception step ofcarrying out transmission/reception of information via said network; anda provision step of providing predetermined content to said outputapparatus which requests provision of said predetermined content,transmitting to said user management server a user registration requestmessage containing user identification information of the user who isrecognized to have logged in the network by said recognition means and adevice identification number of the information processing apparatus,and receiving, from said user management server, information regardingthe output apparatus which is connected to said network in which saiduser is logging in, identifying the output apparatus in which said useris logging in on the basis of the information received from said usermanagement server, and in a case of receiving the predetermined contentby said acquisition means, transmitting a content registration requestmessage to said content management server, and transmitting, to theoutput apparatus which said user is logging in, a message indicatingthat predetermined content is acquired, said message containing positioninformation indicating a position of said predetermined content, andbeing necessary for said output apparatus which said user is logging into acquire said predetermined content.
 7. A computer-readable storagemedium which causes a computer to execute an information processingmethod performed via a network among a content management server whichmanages content, a user management server which manages informationregarding a user who is logging in and an output apparatus which outputsthe content, said method comprising: an acquisition step of acquiringthe content without using said network; a recognition step ofrecognizing that said user logged in said network on the basis of anoperation that the user carried out toward the information processingapparatus; a transmission/reception step of carrying outtransmission/reception of information via said network; and a provisionstep of providing predetermined content to said output apparatus whichrequests provision of said predetermined content, transmitting a userregistration request message containing user identification informationof the user who is recognized to have logged in by said recognition stepand a device identification number of the information processingapparatus and receiving information regarding the output apparatus whichis connected to said network in which said user is logging in,identifying the output apparatus in which said user is logging in on thebasis of the information received from said user management server, andin a case of receiving the predetermined content by said acquisitionstep, transmitting a content registration request message to saidcontent management server, and transmitting, to the output apparatuswhich said user is logging in, a message indicating that predeterminedcontent is acquired, said message containing position informationindicating a position of said predetermined content, and being necessaryfor said output apparatus which said user is logging in to acquire saidpredetermined content.
 8. An output apparatus connected via a network toa content management server which manages content, a user managementserver which manages information regarding a user who is logging in andan information processing apparatus which acquires the content, saidoutput apparatus characterized by: including: recognition means whichrecognizes that said user logged in said network on the basis of anoperation that the user carried out toward the information processingapparatus; and transmission/reception means which carries outtransmission/reception of information via said network, transmitting tosaid user management server a user registration request messagecontaining user identification information of the user who is recognizedto have logged in by said recognition means and a device identificationnumber of the information processing apparatus, indicating that there isoutputable content in response to reception of a message transmittedfrom said information processing apparatus toward, as a destination, theoutput apparatus identified to be the one which said user is logging inby said information processing apparatus on the basis of informationreceived from said user management server and indicating thatpredetermined content has been acquired, containing position informationindicating a position of said predetermined content necessary to acquiresaid predetermined content; and requesting said information processingapparatus to provide said predetermined content and outputting saidpredetermined content to be provided from said information processingapparatus in a case where said predetermined content is instructed to beoutputted in response to the indication that there is outputablecontent.
 9. The output apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterized byfurther including: memory means which stores said position information.10. The output apparatus as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that:in a case where a plurality pieces of position information are stored bysaid memory means on the basis of said message transmitted from aplurality of said information processing apparatuses, on the basis ofsaid position information selected by a user from a plurality pieces ofsaid position information, said output apparatus requests saidinformation processing apparatus to provide said predetermined content,so as to output said predetermined content to be provided from saidinformation processing apparatus.
 11. The output apparatus as claimed inclaim 8, characterized in that said recognition means recognizes thatsaid user has logged in by reading identification information of theuser stored in a contactless IC card.
 12. The output apparatus asclaimed in claim 8, characterized in that said recognition meansrecognizes that said user has logged in by authenticating a fingerprintof the user.
 13. An output method of an output apparatus connected via anetwork to a content management server which manages content, a usermanagement server which manages information regarding a user who islogging in and an information processing apparatus which acquires thecontent, said output method characterized by including: a recognitionstep of recognizing that said user logged in said network on the basisof an operation that the user carried out toward the informationprocessing apparatus; and a transmission/reception step of carrying outtransmission/reception of information via said network; transmitting auser registration request message containing user identificationinformation of the user who is recognized to have logged in by a processof said recognition step and a device identification number of theinformation processing apparatus, indicating that there is outputablecontent in response to reception of a message transmitted from saidinformation processing apparatus toward the output apparatus identifiedto be the one which said user is logging in by said informationprocessing apparatus on the basis of information received from said usermanagement server and indicating that predetermined content has beenacquired, containing position information indicating a position of saidpredetermined content necessary to acquire said predetermined content;and requesting said information processing apparatus to provide saidpredetermined content and outputting said predetermined content to beprovided from said information processing apparatus in a case where saidpredetermined content is instructed to be outputted in response to theindication that there is outputable content.
 14. A computer readablestorage medium which causes a computer to execute an informationprocessing method performed via a network among a content managementserver which manages content, a user management server which managesinformation regarding a user who is logging in and an informationprocessing apparatus which acquires the content, said method comprising:a recognition step of recognizing that said user logged in said networkon the basis of an operation that the user carried out toward theinformation processing apparatus; and a transmission/reception step ofcarrying out transmission/reception of information via said network;transmitting a user registration request message containing useridentification information of the user who is recognized to have loggedin by a process of said recognition step and a device identificationnumber of the information processing apparatus, indicating that there isoutputable content in response to reception of a message transmittedfrom said information processing apparatus toward the output apparatusidentified to be the one which said user is logging in by saidinformation processing apparatus on the basis of information receivedfrom said user management server and indicating that predeterminedcontent has been acquired, containing position information indicating aposition of said predetermined content necessary to acquire saidpredetermined content; and requesting said information processingapparatus to provide said predetermined content and outputting saidpredetermined content to be provided from said information processingapparatus in a case where said predetermined content is instructed to beoutputted in response to the indication that there is outputablecontent.